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Powerlifting face testing 2014, previous year was rewarding
By Franklin Wilson
Despite ending the year on a very low note as a result of the a failed in-competition doping control test by Gumendra Shewdas, the sport of powerlifting enjoyed another successful year at every level, locally and internationally.
Steffi De Nobrega
Shewdas, who became Guyana’s first Sub-Junior World Champion having won gold in the 53kg class at the World championships held in Killeen, Texas, USA was banned for two years by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) after his urine sample was found to have Methylhexaneamine and Oxilofrine, both being Prohibited Substances and Stimulants according to the WADA Prohibited List and the IPF Anti-Doping Rules.
Along with Shewdas’ two-year exile from the sport which commenced on October 21, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) was fined Euro $2000, over half a million Guyana dollars. Failure to pay would result in the federation also being suspended by the world body.
Apart from that negative which will certainly have rippling effects on sports across the board in Guyana, the GAPF enjoyed a rewarding year. Five (5) local competitions were held, Novice, Junior, Intermediate, Masters and Senior’s.
Guyana participated in the Caribbean, Pan American and World championships, while ‘Big’ John Edwards and Edwin Spencer were both successful at their Judges examinations.
The year under review also saw the emergence of more female competitors, a breath of fresh air for the sport. With the progress being jerked by Shewdas’ negligence, it will be a challenge for the federation to keep the interest of the females intact.
To be specific, from a position of having just two (2) females compete in 2012, 2013 saw nine (9) competitors on the distaff side. There were a total of 85 athletes who competed during the year at the various levels.
For females there were three (3) juniors and six (6) in the open category. Among the males there were nine (9) sub-juniors, sixteen (16) juniors, forty-six (46) in the open and five (5) masters.
The top ranked lifters in the various categories for the year 2013 are as follows:
Name Category Gym
Steffi De Nobrega Junior/52kg Buddies
Kimberly Mars-Lonke Open/84kg Buddies
Gumendra Shewdas Sub-Junior/53kg Total Fitness/Corentyne
Vijai Rahim Junior/66kg Hardcore/Rosignol
Randolph Morgan Open/83kg GMR&SC
Winston Stoby Masters/74kg Kingsrow Barbel Club
The youngest lifter for the year was 14-year-old Terry D’Ornalles of Hardcore Gym who competed in the Sub-Junior 66kg category.
John Edwards and Edwin Spencer, both International Powerlifting Federation Category 11 Judges, officiated at the Caribbean and Pan American Championships.
Kimberly Mars-Lonke
Guyana captured the male team title at the Caribbean championships; joint third of twelve (12) teams at the Pan American Open championships; fourth of eight (8) teams at the Pan American Juniors and Pan American Masters.
The women’s team placed second at the Caribbean level while they were 7th of nine teams at the Pan American Open championships.
GAPF Peter Green, while disappointed with the turn of events towards the end of the year, said that the federation will have to meet and decide on the way forward in spite of the evident challenges.
He said that there would be no overseas travels this year, while the federation will be making efforts to ensure that athletes are fully ceased with the ills of using substances, including energy drinks that are harmful to their health and progress in the sport.
Goals for 2014: conduct anti-doping education seminars with the IPF assistance; procurement of additional weights with assistance from the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport; construction of a home for powerlifting, weightlifting and bodybuilding; regional teaching seminars on powerlifting.
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